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洎 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
洎jìwhen, until; to soak; soupg, 9 strokes, radical 氵
洎jìto reachunknown, 9 strokes, radical 氵
jì(ji4) T4
  1. 1when, until; to soak; soup
  2. 2to reach
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

洎jì(ji4)

The character 洎 (jì) primarily means 'when' or 'until' and can also imply 'to soak' or 'soup.' It is often used in literary contexts and can indicate a point in time or a condition that must be met before something else occurs, adding a layer of nuance to discussions about timing or conditions.

Strokes9Radical氵
Cultural Note

The character 洎 reflects the importance of time and conditions in Chinese proverbs and poetry, often emphasizing patience and the right timing in both life and nature. This can be observed in traditional sayings that regard timing as crucial to success.

Memory Tip

Imagine a large bowl of soup (the radical for water, 水, is present) that needs to soak in flavors until just the right moment (when) to be enjoyed. 'Jì' sounds like 'jee,' which you might say when you’re excited about the soup that’s ready at just the right time.

Meanings of 洎

jì(ji4)
1when, until; to soak; soup
2to reach
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 洎

洎Simplified
9Strokes
氵Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 洎

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Podcast: 洎

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AI Study Notes for 洎

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 洎 with similar-sounding characters like 纪 (jì, to record or chronicle). It's mainly used in formal writing or poetry rather than in everyday conversation. Pay attention to its tone, as a mispronunciation can change its meaning.

HSK Study Tips

Though 洎 is not listed in the HSK levels, it can be beneficial for students at advanced levels who are exploring classical texts or literature. Focus on the contexts in which it appears, especially in poetic or formal expressions, to understand its subtleties.

Common Mistakes

Learners might mistakenly use 洎 in informal conversations, assuming it fits common usage, when it is more suitable for written or poetic contexts. For example, saying '我会在这里洎你' (I will be here when you come) sounds awkward; '我会在这里等你' is more appropriate.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 洎

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Etymology of 洎

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

water

Semantic (meaning)氵
+
Phonetic (sound)自
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 洎

  1. 1The meaning half氵 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half自 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaywater
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 洎? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 洎?

Decomposition of 洎

IDS Structure⿰氵自
洎Full Character
=
氵shui3
left
自zi4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 洎?

How to say when, until; to soak; soup in Chinese

“when, until; to soak; soup” in Chinese is洎jì

The character 洎 (jì) primarily means 'when' or 'until' and can also imply 'to soak' or 'soup.' It is often used in literary contexts and can indicate a point in time or a condition that must be met before something else occurs, adding a layer of nuance to discussions about timing or conditions.

When to use 洎

Learners often confuse 洎 with similar-sounding characters like 纪 (jì, to record or chronicle). It's mainly used in formal writing or poetry rather than in everyday conversation. Pay attention to its tone, as a mispronunciation can change its meaning.

What learners get wrong

Learners might mistakenly use 洎 in informal conversations, assuming it fits common usage, when it is more suitable for written or poetic contexts. For example, saying '我会在这里洎你' (I will be here when you come) sounds awkward; '我会在这里等你' is more appropriate.

Write 洎

洎

Practice writing 洎 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 洎

洎 carries 2 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 1

Complete the Sentence

?妗莪还沩____己哋帅洏坚强哋萿着!

So far I also own a strong and handsome alive!

Example Sentences for 洎 (1)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
?妗莪还沩洎己哋帅洏坚强哋萿着!

? ? jìn é huán wéi jì jǐ diè shuài ér jiān qiáng diè kuò!

So far I also own a strong and handsome alive!

Word Family of 洎

Words Containing This Character1
洎jìwhen
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 洎 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 洎

No, it is more often found in literature or formal contexts.

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